Bottle-sterilizing arrangement



y 1949- o. H. BREWSTER 2,471,303

BOTTLE STERILIZING ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 3, 1946 INVENTOR. OI IVER H. BREWSTER ATTORNEY Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED PATQEN OFFICE 2,471,303 wfiO'ETLE fiTERILlIZING ARRANGEMENT -;liver' H.{ Brewstesr; Essex lfells; N. J assignor to Electrical Industries, Inc; Nevvark, N. J., a corporation ofNewJe'rsey A l at n-Irene" 3, b i i 713,693

'lll Gl'aims. 1

The present invention relates to bottle-supporting arrangements and, particularly, to such arrangements, as employed in bottle sterilizers of the type useful in sterilizing infants x nursing bottles.

v n a i a s once n a pl ca ion S ria .N 6-39,2 5Q f led J'anuary 5, 19 46, entitled sterilizing device'f a nd assigned to the same assigneeas the present application, there is disclosed a bottle sterilizer .of 'the typei mentioned and having I a hollowbase member in; which steam is generated. The base member is'providedwithspaced jets through which the steam isidirected to the interior of bottles to be sterilized. The bottles, are supported over the steam ljets by a plurality .of wire loopsvvhich are secured' to a fiange member supported by a pedestal in spaced relationto ,the base member. I This bottle-supporting arrangement is relatively expensive to' fabricate, requires a heavier base construction than is,,desira]ole,' and doesnot possess asturdiness comparablewithithe rest of 'the sterilizer.

It isan object of the presentinvention, ther fore, to provide: in aib ottle sterilizer a bottlesupporting arran g'ement having asturdy ,yetrelaz j yh ne en iv .s onstr c iq It is a further-objector the invention to provide in a bottle sterilizer I a. bottle supportingfarrangement which maybe fabricated in partfrom sheet material; for example, sheet metal, ,ithereby permitting a wide choice in 'thehselectionfpf the material used particularly with ,regard to certain important qualities thereof such ,7 as Y rigidity, strength, ease of fabrication, corrosionrsisftance, and'the like. n

a In accordance with a particular form oft-"the invention, there is provided in a bottlelsterilizer, a bottle-supporting arrangement cqinprisiiigzfa sterilizer base member including ,a plurajlity 10f spaced vapor jets integrally formed; therewith and protruding therefrom and eachv adapted to'treceive the mouth of anlindividualbottle vtoflbe sterilized, each of the jets h aving anfleffec tiye transverse dimension substantiallylequal to the internal diameter of the bottle mouthtorestrain thebottie against substantial movement at the region of the mouth thereot but havingat least one circumferential groove longitudinally thereof to permit drainage of vapor condensate outbf the bottle; and an 'apertured' plate member [secured .tolthe base memberin' spaced relation therewith randwith the apertures thereof corresponding in: number to the Vapor jets and arranged..inialignmenttherewith to suj pqnmaiwvdual ones :of the bottles at a circumferential "regionthereof spaced from the vapor jets, whereby each of the bottles is supported on the base for sterilization only by' an individual one of the jets and the plate member.

For a better understanding of the present invention; together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the single figure of the drawmg; there is shown 'a bottlesterilizer particularly useful for sterilizing infants" nursing bottles. The sterilizer includes a bottle-supporting arrangement embodying the 'pre'sentin'vention and comprising a'base' member ID of dish-shaped'conflgurationhaving a centrally disposed well If in whichare positioned a pair of spaced electrodes 12,43 of compressed carbon or the like." The electrodes l2, l3 are "connected by conductive members, which extendthroug'h "sealed holes in the bottom of the base member In, to individual conductors'of anelectrical power-supply cord 14. The basemem'ber includes a cover' I5 which is secured to the base 'member by spacedmachine screws l 6 to form therewith a chamber closed ex- 7 cept for a very slight spacing between the periphery of the cover-I5 and the'basemember l0.

1. The "cover 15 includes a plurality of protruding spaced vapor jets I! extending normalto apl'ane lwhichincludes the approximately fiat upper surface of the cover, each of the jets f! being adapted .to receive, or be received within, the mouth of an individual bottle'to be sterilizedto restrain the bottle against substantial movement at'the ,regionlof-the mouth thereof." The'jets ll project from the cover J '5 with approximately triangular cross section and have a centrally disposedorifice communicating with thesteam chamber formed between the base member l0 and its cover l5.

' The bottle-supporting arrangement also in- =cludes an apertured'platemember]8 of relatively rigid sheet metal, for example" aluminum, supported by andinspaced relation to 'thecover 15 with the apertures 19 of the 'platefmember correspending in number to the vapor je'tsfll' and arranged in alignment therewithto' support individual ones of thebottles at a circurnferjentialjre- -gion thereof spaced from the vaporijets. Inparticular; a plurality of spaced-pedestals' 2fl 'aresi1it- 1 ably secured to'the cover fila f d theplate member SIB is secured to the pede's'tals'hz l'fbylmachine st a s L In an eu fi bo s e av a cylindrical body terminating at one end in a shoulder from which a relatively sniallneck BX- 3 tends to the mouth portion. The apertures [9 of the plate member l3 may engage the cylindrical body portion of such bottles at a region well spaced from the mouth thereof. Preferably, however, each aperture is is smaller than the diameter of the body of the bottle so that the shoulder of the bottle rests upon the periphery of the aperture to support the bottle with the mouth thereof engaging one of the jets ll but out of engagement with the cover lb of the base member.

The sterilizer includes a cover 22 which fits within the raised lip of the base member ill to enclose the bottles to be sterilized.

Considering now the operation of the sterilizer just described, a small quantity of water is poured into the base member if! and flows through the small ap between the base member and its cover I5 to the well ll partially to immerse the electrodes l2 and 13. Electrical current flowing between the electrodes heats the water to the boiling point to generate steam. The steam flows out of the jets ll and is directed by the latter to the interior of the bottles to be sterilized. A portion of the steam flows, with the condensate, out of the mouth of the bottle and fills the entire chamber within the cover 22 to sterilize the exteriors of the bottles together with any other implements which may be enclosed with the bottles for sterilization. It is to facilitate such escape of steam from the interior of the bottles, and also to permit condensate to return to the well ii, that the vapor jets ll have the triangular cross section previously mentioned and the mouth of each bottle is maintained out of engagement with the cover it by the use of apertures 58 of suitable size to support the bottle by engagement with its shoulder. Any condensate which returns to the well ll is used again, the sterilizing process continuing until there is sufficient loss of steam around the lip of the cover22 to the exterior atmosphere that all of the water is exhausted. This may require some 15 or 20 minutes, depending upon the quantity of water originally used.

The bottle-supportin arrangement is a sturdy yet simple and relatively inexpensive one, particularly in that the jets ill are easily moulded integrally with the cover it of the base member and the apertured plate member is may simply be die-stamped from sheet material. Further, the supporting pedestals 2e are preferably moulded into the cover it and may be suficiently well spaced from each other that there is little danger of breakage of the cover It should the plate member [8 receive a sharp blow. These features enable the bottle sterilizer to be fabricated as a compact, sturdy unit involving only a simple and relatively inexpensive construction.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bottle sterilizer, a bottle-supporting arrangement comprising: a sterilizer base member including a plurality of spaced vapor jets integrally formed therewith and protruding therefrom and each adapted to receive the mouth of an individual bottle to be sterilized, each of said jets havin an effective transverse dimension substantially equal to the internal diameter of said 4 bottle mouth to restrain said bottle against substantial movement at the region of the mouth thereof but having at least one circumferential groove longitudinally thereof to permit drainage of vapor condensate out of said bottle; and an apertured plate member secured to said base member in spaced relation therewith and with th apertures thereof corresponding in number to said vapor jets and arranged in alignment therewith to support individual ones of said bottles at a circumferential region thereof spaced from said vapor jets, whereby each of said bottles is supported on said base for sterilization only by an individual one of said jets and said plate member.

2. In a bottle sterilizer, a bottle-supporting arrangement comprising: a sterilizer base member having an approximately planar surface from which protrude approximately normal thereto a plurality of spaced vapor jets integrally formed therewith and each adapted to receive the mouth of individual bottle to be sterilized, each of jets having an effective transverse dimension substantially equal to the internal diameter of said bottle mouth to restrain said bottle against substantial movement at the region of the mouth thereof but having at least one circumferential groove longitudinally thereof to permit drainage of vapor condensate out of said bottle; and an apertured plate member secured to said base member in spaced relation therewith and with the apertures thereof corresponding in number to said vapor jets and arranged in alignment therewith to support indi idual ones of said bottles at a circumferential region thereof spaced from said vapor jets, whereby each of said bottles is supported on said base for sterilization only by an individual one of said jets and said plate member.

3. In a bottle sterilizer, a bottle-supporting arrangement comprising: a sterilizer base member includin a plurality of spaced vapor jets integrally formed therewith and protruding therefrom approximately normal to a common plane and each adapted to receive the mouth of an individual bottle to be sterilized, each of said jets having an effective transverse dimension substantially equal to the internal diameter of said bottle mouth to restrain said bottle against substantial movement at the region of the mouth thereof but having at least one circumferential groove longitudinally thereof to permit drainage of vapor condensate out of said bottle; and an apertured plate member secured to said base member in spaced relation therewith and with the apertures thereof corresponding in number to said vapor jets and arranged in alignment therewith to support individual ones of said bottles at a circumferential region thereof spaced from said vapor jets, whereby each of said bottles is supported on said base for sterilization only by an individual one of said jets and said plate member.

4. In a bottle sterilizer, a bottle-supporting arrangement comprising: a sterilizer base member including a plurality of spaced vapor jets integrally formed therewith and protruding therefrom and each adapted to be received within the mouth of an individual bottle to be sterilized, each of said jets having an effective transverse dimension substantially equal to the internal diameter of said bottle mouth to restrain said bottle against substantial movement at the mouth thereof but having at least one circumferential groove longitudinally thereof to permit drainage of vapor condensate out of said bottle; and an apertured plate member secured to said base member in spaced relation therewith and with the apertures thereof corresponding in number to said vapor jets and arranged in alignment therewith to support individual ones of said bottles at a circumferential region thereof spaced from said vapor jets, whereby each of said bottles is supported on said base for sterilization only by an individual one of said jets and said plate member.

5. In a bottle sterilizer, a bottle-supporting arrangement comprising: a sterilizer base member including a plurality of spaced vapor jets integrally formed therewith and protruding therefrom and each adapted to receive the mouth of an individual bottle to be sterilized, each of said jets having an effective transverse dimension substantially equal to the internal diameter of said bottle mouth to restrain said bottle against substantial movement at the region of the mouth thereof but having at least one circumferential groove longitudinally thereof to permit drainage of vapor condensate out of said bottle; and an apertured plate member of relatively rigid sheet material secured to said base member in spaced relation therewith and with the apertures thereof corresponding in number to said vapor jets and arranged in alignment therewith to support individual ones of said bottles at a circumferential region thereof spaced from said vapor jets, whereby each of said bottles is supported on said base for sterilization only by an individual one of said jets and said plate member.

6. In a bottle sterilizer, a bottle-supporting arrangement comprising: a sterilizer base member including a plurality of spaced vapor jets integrally formed therewith and protruding therefrom and each adapted to receive the mouth of an individual bottle to be sterilized, each of said jets having an effective transverse dimension substantially equal to the internal diameter of said bottle mouth to restrain said bottle against substantial movement at the region of the mouth thereof but having at least one circumferential groove longitudinally thereof to permit drainage of vapor condensate out of said bottle; and an apertured plate member of relatively rigid sheet metal secured to said base member in spaced relation therewith and with the apertures thereof corresponding in number to said vapor jets and arranged in alignment therewith to support indi-- vidual ones of said bottles at a circumferential region thereof spaced from said vapor jets, whereby each of said bottles is supported on said base for sterilization only by an individual one of said jets and said plate member.

7. In a bottle sterilizer, a bottle-supporting arrangement comprising: a sterilizer base member including a plurality of spaced vapor jets integrally formed therewith and protruding therefrom and each adapted to receive the mouth of an individual shouldered bottle to be sterilized, each of said jets having an efiective transverse dimension substantially equal to the internal diameter of said bottle mouth to restrain said bottle against substantial movement at the region of the mouth thereof but having at least one circumferential groove longitudinally thereof to permit drainage of vapor condensate out of said bottle; and an apertured plate member secured to said base member in spaced relation therewith and with the apertures thereof corresponding in numher to said vapor jets and arranged in alignment therewith to support individual ones of said bottles by engagement with the shoulder thereof while maintaining the mouth of said bottle out of engagement with said base member, whereby each of said bottles is supported on said base for sterilization only by an individual one of said jets and said plate member.

OLIVER H. BREWSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name- Date 695,446 Donerty Mar. 18, 1902 1,610,186 Verville Dec. '7, 1926 

